Following a career of activism leading to the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Opal Lee’s next project is a National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, TX. Keen to tell the story of emancipation from every perspective, Lee visited Tribal headquarters in August to discuss the unique history of slavery and emancipation in Indian Territory.
The CPN House of Hope held their very first Color Fun Run last month to kick off National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The 1K race provided information to participants about what domestic violence is, who is affected, and what services can be offered to provide safety and prevent future abuse.
Comma, a CPCDC-supported business formerly known as The Gathering Place Coffee Co., has re-launched their brand with a new name that better reflects their mission: to provide a space that helps people pause during their day.
CPN Workforce Development and Social Services’ Andrea Smiley and Stephanie McElfresh work together to bring CPN’s LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) benefits to local families. The program served 250 households during the 2022 cooling season.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s Cultural Heritage Center hosted a blanket healing exercise for education professionals in the area. The purpose of the NIEA training is to foster truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
As an economic force in central Oklahoma, Citizen Potawatomi Nation continued to contribute to the growth and sustainability of Oklahoma and its communities in 2021. A government report released earlier this year shows the Nation’s economic impact increased from $546 million in 2020 to $729 million in 2021 — a total of $183 million. Over the last 15 years, the numbers show an expansion of $350 million.
Navarre family descendant Carson Capps just completed his term as a state officer with the Oklahoma FFA. As one of eight state officers, he represented the interests of more than 28,000 FFA members across the state. He values the leadership opportunities, career possibilities and support system he has found through the FFA.
You’re invited to a discussion on faith, liberty and courage with Opal Lee, National Grandmother of Juneteenth, on August 20, 2022 at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center.
On June 17, 2022, Citizen Potawatomi Nation and the Dunbar Heights Community of Shawnee, Oklahoma, held a VIP reception in honor of Juneteenth. The partnership works to acknowledge the historical ties between Native tribes and slavery, repair the historical divides between Native American and Black communities, and pave the way toward a more just and equitable future.
As a high school senior, Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Shelby O’Steen received the Jim Thorpe High School Volleyball Player of the Year award from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022. The Bright Path Program recognizes the top high school athletes from across the state for their athletic and academic prowess.